I was asked to make a movie cake, so like many of you on here, I wanted to include popcorn in that. I thought the box on the Boxes and Bows DVD was cute, so I used that method to make the popcorn "bag." I stacked my square cakes and made the 4 panels. I let them harden and attached them to the cake. I then sealed the "seams" with melted chocolate. Everything was wonderful. I moved it to the truck with no issues.

As I was driving, I started to smell chocolate, a true sign that something has gone wrong. I was supposed to meet the buyer at a halfway point to exchange the cake. When I got to the point, one of the panels had fallen off. I was able to attach it, and I turned the cake over to the woman.

When she got home, she called me in a frantic mess. All four panels had fallen over and had also damaged the clapboard. Needless to say, I'm refunding her money. I am so mortified. What happened? What caused this? How do I stop this from happening again the future? I only ask because I have to make a gift box cake in a few months, and I'm afraid this will happen again.

I have made several of the boxes by Sharon's method and never had a problem. I notice that you live in Florida, were you keeping the cake cool enough that the chocolate didn't melt?

I have a suburban which has a rear air system so in the summer I explain to the customers that they may want to pay the extra for delivery to be confident that heat doesn't ruin their cake on the way home. I live in GA and know how the heat and humidity can wreak havoc with cakes!

what did you attach them to the sides of the cake with?

and how warm was it in your car?

let us know so we can try to help...

I am also curious about what you used to attach the panels to the cake.

It sounds like the chocolate got too hot and melted. Sorry, I know it sucks when something like this happens.

It sounds like it got too warm in your vehicle - especially since you say you smelled chocolate. Temperature isn't the only enemy. If sunlight was hitting the cake, that would compromise the chocolate even if it's cool in the vehicle.

I used melted chocolate to attach the panels and then I used the chocolate to "seal" the seams. I actually turned on my car and got the air running for 15 mins before I put the cake into the vehicle. My rear windows are tinted dark. I was actually freezing in the front seat.

The woman told me that she was able to push the panels back into place and move around the popcorn to "fix" it. I haven't seen the pictures of her fix yet.

I really enjoyed the square look of the bag. It looked sharp and polished. I just don't want the same thing to happen again. I was thinking that next time I may wrap saran wrap around the cake to add some pressure to the sides and to hold it in place?

sounds like you did it right. The only thing I can think is that the car was too warm where the cake was......

maybe you can try royal icing next time for glue... I have only used choc and never had a problem, so not sure how royal will react....

so sorry that happened!

oh and PS.... how warm was HER car? You have no control over what she did when the cake left you.....

First off, I would like to say that it's pretty awesome that I ask a question about a technique from a DVD, and the star of the DVD answers me. Talk about good customer service....

You're right about not being able to control her car or her. However, one of the panels fell off in my car. I reattached it and then all 4 fell in her car. The chocolate was still hard in my car. Not sure about hers. I could try royal icing next time. Florida is hotter than the surface of the sun.

Glad to help any time I can

it had to be the heat, prob way warmer in her car than yours. I think royal will work.....

What kind of fondant did you use to cover the base cake? Maybe it was too greasy or had too much powdered sugar or cornstarch on the surface.

I didn't cover the base in fondant. I thought I could just adhere the panels to the buttercream? Is that what I did wrong?

no that is not wrong, that is how i did it in the video....

I have Sharon's DVD - but have only watched portions of it (so far.) So does the melted chocolate stick to the buttercream? I would think that there is too much grease in buttercream and that the chocolate wouldn't hold well.

it holds great; that is the only way I do it.... of course you have to watch for heat with choc... so royal is another option

I've only watched Sharon's dvd in my local library but I took good notes and did my first box cake for my daughter's engagement dinner and it worked perfect!!!

Sorry to hear of your disaster, but I think the chocolate melted with the heat...

Sharon- I just wanted to chime in and say that it's awesome that you were trying to help and figure out what went on. Great customer service.

I also wanted to ask, if I may if I have a question about one of your DVD's, what is the best way to do so?

Thanks!
Melissa

Doesn't the grease in buttercream break down royal icing though too?